Another year ends and we prepare for a new one to begin. I do hope you have been enjoying the festive season and can look forward to whatever 2024 has in store for you and yours. Our Christmas was...
Another year ends and we prepare for a new one to begin. I do hope you have been enjoying the festive season and can look forward to whatever 2024 has in store for you and yours.
Our Christmas was spent quietly, just as I like it. The weekend before we attended a lovely carol service at the village church, my first time inside this building in many years. Daughter and younger son had work shifts scheduled either side but all five of us were at home to enjoy our usual Christmas Day traditions: Parkrun for those interested; brunch of bagels, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs; opening the presents under the tree; a big dinner in the evening.
I feel fortunate there is no expectation that we will travel anywhere or visit relations at this time of year. For those who enjoy such activity I hope it all went well but I hear too many stories of pressure to perform when amongst wider family, and then upset.
Although we work hard beforehand to provide special food and presents for each other, everything is kept low key and without too much waste or expenditure. We tend to give gifts during the year when items are needed rather than delaying them for Christmas or birthdays. All families are different and doing what suits minimises pressure.
December may be dominated by Christmas but we did enjoy a family meal out at a local pub restaurant earlier in the month. The children had their own socials to attend as well as meeting up with friends. It felt as though the season was well celebrated.
As mentioned last month, I ran my first official half marathon towards the end of November. While this was something I feel proud of achieving, and I certainly don’t regret doing it, the race itself took a tremendous amount out of me. I wrote my thoughts on this here. I also wrote a Run Report of the event which you may read here.
Parkrun Reports in December came from: Pomphery Hill in Mangotsfield, near Bristol; and Five Arches in Radstock, near Bath. We also returned to some more local locations that I have reported on before, including the Christmas Day event in Chippenham.
As is customary at this time of year I pulled together a list of recommended reads from books reviewed in 2023. Robyn added her selection here.
I finished the month with a film review, a rarity for me but Leave the World Behind was much hyped and garnered positive reviews elsewhere which, having watched it perplexed me…
I sometimes wonder if I am still primarily a book blogger given the varied topics I choose to write about. Nevertheless, I posted reviews for 10 books in December. Robyn was too busy with important exam preparation to contribute (we heard just before Christmas she had passed – yay). Instead, we had a guest review (see Critical Hits below) from Padraig.
As is customary in my monthly roundups, click on the title below to read the review and on the cover to learn more about the book.
Fiction
Quiet City by Philip Davison, published by Liberties Press
The Finery by Rachel Grosvenor, published by Fly on the Wall Press
Short stories
First Love, Last Rites by Ian McEwan, published by Picador
Translated fiction
Confession by Martín Kohan (translated by Daniel Hahn), published by Charco Press
Children’s fiction
Dear Teddy Robinson by Joan G. Robinson, published by Puffin
Finding Bear by Hannah Gold (illustrated by Levi Pinfold), published by Harper Collins
Non fiction
Free for All by Dr Gavin Francis, published by Profile
Critical Hits edited by Carmen Maria Machado and J. Robert Lennon, published by Serpent’s Tail
Also, a Guest Review of Critical Hits by Padraig
A Strange Life by Louisa May Alcott, published by Notting Hill Editions
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell, published by The Harvard Press
Sourcing the books
Robyn added just two books to her collection – a purchase and a gift.
I received a wonderful stack of new additions, including four from my lovely children on Christmas Day.
As ever I wish to thank all the publishers who send me their books to review – the arrival of a book parcel remains a cheering event in my day.
My thanks also to those who share my words across their social media platforms – your support is always appreciated.
And to everyone reading this, I wish you and yours good health, fine days, and a Happy New Year.